First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

General Discussion on any topic relating to CPAP and/or Sleep Apnea.
dbreweur
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First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by dbreweur » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:16 pm

Tomorrow will be the first "big" cleaning I'm doing of all parts of the mask, headgear, tubing, etc. I know that the tech at the DME suggested I use something as simple as ivory soap or even using a vinegar/water mix for the humidifier tank (She spent about two seconds covering the cleaning of my mask/machine, which is approx how long I was able to retain that little information ) For what it's worth, I have the heated tubing in addition to the equipment listed in my signature, so I don't know if certain soaps would degrade the hosing or anything.

What liquid soaps do you all use to clean your mask/headgear/tubing/etc?

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LoBattery
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by LoBattery » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:23 pm

My mask got a funky smell after about 5 months. Several times with dish soap and hot water didn't improve it much. Had a bottle of hydrogen peroxide, only used a little and that did the trick. Something to keep in mind.
Seeing and believing are often both wrong. FOW

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Hopeful50
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by Hopeful50 » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:30 pm

You'll get 100 different answers from 100 different people, all the way from clean everything everyday to rarely clean anything but the filter. Doing a search (top left corner of the window) on cleaning will give you more information than you can read in a day, then you can make your own choices based on your own need for clean.

My personal routine - for my DreamWear cushion, a light spritz with diluted baby shampoo, then a warm water rinse, once a week or so. Change the filter when it's not pure white. Period. (I don't use the humidifier any more, but when I did, I emptied it every morning and left it open to dry. It never needed more than that, but I only used it for about 6 months.)

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Wulfman...
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by Wulfman... » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:34 pm

Some links to related reading material.

viewtopic.php?p=567264#p567264


Den

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(5) REMstar Autos w/C-Flex & (6) REMstar Pro 2 CPAPs w/C-Flex - Pressure Setting = 14 cm.
"Passover" Humidification - ResMed Ultra Mirage FF - Encore Pro w/Card Reader & MyEncore software - Chiroflow pillow
User since 05/14/05

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OkyDoky
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by OkyDoky » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:36 pm

I wipe my mask each morning with an alcohol scent free baby wipe. When I do clean, I use Baby Shampoo. If the humidifier has sediment (rarely), I use 1/4 vinegar to 3/4 water and let it set for a few minutes. My hose is dry and I haven't seen the need to wash it for a while. When I did, I just put the baby shampoo water through it then rinsed with water while keeping the electrical connector end dry. I did initially buy the hose brushes but they were a waste of money.
ResMed Aircurve 10 VAUTO EPAP 11 IPAP 15 / P10 pillows mask / Sleepyhead Software / Back up & travel machine Respironics 760

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chunkyfrog
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by chunkyfrog » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:38 pm

Whatever makes you happy, helps your supplies last, and does NOT cost an arm and a leg.
Simple is good.

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Goldie54914
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by Goldie54914 » Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:56 pm

I use half white vinegar/Half warm water to clean everything, except the silicone parts. Cleaning this way make it feel like my CPAP is on Steroids. I have been doing this for three years and have had no problems with the equipment deteriorating, etc. I use dish soap to clean the silicone parts. I let everything air dry. Every month, I wash the CPAP straps with dish soap, rinse in water and then let them air dry.

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Soothest Sleep
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by Soothest Sleep » Tue Jan 17, 2017 12:37 am

I use Method's Sea Minerals liquid dish soap because it has a neutral aroma and I like their products. I use only a drop or two in half a bathroom sink of cool water to swish everything in, even the heated humidifier tube. I run everything under running water to rinse, and also let running water go through the hoses to rinse out any soap. I'm in a soft water area, so haven't had to worry (yet) about mineral deposits. Everything is air dried, with hoses draped over a towel bar to drain.

Jean
O soft embalmer of the still midnight,
Shutting, with careful fingers and benign,
Our gloom-pleas'd eyes, embower'd from the light,
Enshaded in forgetfulness divine
-- John Keats

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LSAT
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by LSAT » Tue Jan 17, 2017 6:17 am

Soothest Sleep wrote:I use Method's Sea Minerals liquid dish soap because it has a neutral aroma and I like their products. I use only a drop or two in half a bathroom sink of cool water to swish everything in, even the heated humidifier tube. I run everything under running water to rinse, and also let running water go through the hoses to rinse out any soap. I'm in a soft water area, so haven't had to worry (yet) about mineral deposits. Everything is air dried, with hoses draped over a towel bar to drain.

Jean
I suppose you clean the hose because you are afraid of germs...then hang the hose to dry in the most germ filled room in the house.

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FishLips
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by FishLips » Tue Jan 17, 2017 10:50 am

It's pretty easy to run filtered CPAP air through a recently washed hose/mask/humidifier.

I don't wash my equipment on a strict schedule, but I can generally tell when it needs to be done. I wash, reassemble, then run the CPAP for ~10 min. It dries pretty quickly.

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Drew
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Re: First "full" clean - What supplies to use?

Post by Drew » Tue Jan 17, 2017 1:58 pm

Hi,

Every night before retiring I wash my nasal pillow with Surcare washing up liquid.

Every Sunday morning I clean all other equipment again with Surcare washing up liquid. The hose is left in a bowl for a few minutes then flushed through with the washing liquid and thoroughly rinsed. The elasticated head strap and small hose is also washed at the same time.

As I live in a hard water area the water container is left in a bowl full of vinegar/water, this descales and removes mineral deposits. I then clean the container and rinse through.

The filter in the machine is checked and changed as and when.